The federal government has given a big boost to the Shores of Erie Wine Festival, which has showcased wine production in the region for the last 10 years.

Peter Van Loan, MP for York-Simcoe, announced Thursday the government will contribute $62,600 to the festival. He made the announcement on behalf of Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages while visiting the Fort Malden historic site in Amherstburg, where the festival will take place starting Sept. 4.

“We view it as important in promoting the local economy,” Van Loan said. “What we have here both in terms of the wine industry, the hospitality industry and tourism.”

Van Loan said the grant comes from the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program. Groups can apply for a grant, though not everyone is successful. “And of course the amount you get depends on each individual application,” he said. “This was seen as having merit.”

Chairwoman of the Shores of Erie wine festival Karen Gyorgy said the committee can’t thank the federal government enough.

“Through the determination of the Shores of Erie committee members and with partners like the Fort Malden National Historic site and a great a of help from the Town of Amherstburg and to the federal government, we have evolved into a premier festival,” Gyorgy said.

Gyorgy said the funds will be used to bring in all local entertainment throughout the weekend.

“This enables us to bring in entertainment we could not before,” she said.

An example she gave was a Food Network chef that cost $5,000 to book. She said that cost is bigger than the festival’s budget was in the first year.

The Shores of Erie Wine Festival takes place Sept. 4-7 at the Fort Malden National Historic Site. For four days, more than 50 vendors will serve up local food and wine and there will be demonstrations by a variety of experts as well as entertainment.

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